New tackling system at Indiana should restore defense's confidence

Indiana’s Bobby Richardson helps the officials make the call after a safety in the second half of the 44-24 victory over Penn State last week. Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013 (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
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BLOOMINGTON – It's not as if Indiana University needs the Chicago Bears' "Super Bowl Shuffle" team or Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain. After all, the Hoosiers were 5-0 last season when allowing 40 or fewer points.

Saturday's college football opener against Indiana State (noon, ESPN News) will be the Hoosiers' first time to show whether their new 3-4 alignment can indeed limit opponents to 40 points — or whether it's a reshuffling of players who simply cannot restrain anyone.

New defensive coordinator Brian Knorr said Indiana has implemented a "new tackling system" modeled after what NFL teams use. Essentially, that means getting in proper position to make a tackle. Or, as Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu might have put it, winning the battle before it is fought.

"Our kids need confidence," Knorr said Monday. "Last spring, that's one of the things I noticed, even in workouts. When they had success, they gained confidence. So it will be important for us to have success, and success early. With that success, they'll have more confidence, and they'll play faster."

When asked whether the Hoosiers' preseason execution on defense has his approval, Knorr replied: "Absolutely."

He suggested only about half of the defense has been introduced but said it's more important for the Hoosiers to perfect what they know.

"Like I tell guys all the time, 'If you're thinking, you don't know,'" coach Kevin Wilson said. "If you know, you know. You know the calls, you know the job, do the job."

Bobby Richardson, a senior defensive end, said the Hoosiers consider the new defense simpler and amounts to an attacking rather than reactive style. The defense is "just like having an offense," he said.

"We feel like we're a good, solid, bonded defense right now," Richardson said. "We've got a different swagger about us."

There will be no swagger unless the Hoosiers fulfill minimum bowl requirements: 6-6. They have won as many as six games once since 1994.

Wilson said Indiana has been "on the verge" of six, seven or eight victories in each of the past two seasons. But after records of 1-11, 4-8 and 5-7, Wilson directly addressed what Indiana must do in his fourth season:

"We need to start winning."

More game-day initiatives

Selfie stations and enhanced wireless at Memorial Stadium, plus a digital billboard on I-465 in Indianapolis?

Technology has changed all of life, and that applies to college football, too. Athletic director Fred Glass announced the above initiatives, and more, in an attempt to enhance fans' game-day experience. He said Indiana's aim is to have an "in-house experience in the stadium."

A 200-foot-long, 3-foot-high ribbon board on the facade of the north end zone, built for $300,000, will show updated statistics. Total cost of paving the purple parking lot on the northwest side and landscaping the area was $6.8 million.

Athletic director Fred Glass talks about new fan initiatives for football ganes.
David Woods / The Star

Popcorn will be served in Old Oaken Bucket replica popcorn tubs. Ushers and event services staff are to make fans feel welcome, similar to what is done at Disney theme parks, Glass said. "Hoosier Bucks" will be distributed to fans for use at concessions stands if, for instance, they drop a drink or hot dog.

IU has formed a 25-member fan advisory board. The school had attendance of 890,000 for all home sports events last year and is aiming for 1 million.